Cesarius, St, of Arles

Cesarius, St., Of Arles was born in 469 at Chalons-sur-Saone. He early developed monkish tendencies, and privately withdrew from his parents to the monastery of Lerins, where he was appointed to the office of cellarer. Afterward, falling ill from extreme asceticism, he was obliged to remove to Aries, and was beloved by Eonius the bishop, whom, in 502, he succeeded in the see of Aries. He died in 542, leaving many homilies, containing evidence of much piety combined with great superstition. A volume of them was edited by Stephen Baluze (Paris, 1669, 8vo). The others are given in the Biblioth. Patrumm, 8:819, 860, and 27:324. His Regula Monachorum (contained in Holstenii Codex Regul. Monast. Rome, 1661) was adopted by many convents and often used by the founders of orders. Monks and nuns of St. Caesarius existed until the rule of Benedict was generally adopted. A graphic sketch of his life and labors is given by Neander, Light in Dark Places, p. 50. Mosheim, Ch. Hist. 1:164, 166; Neander, Ch. Hist. 2:261, 304, 650; Cave, Bist. Lit. anno 502.